Page 49 of Saving You Losing Me

I hate how desperate I’ve become and I hold my breath as I wait to see where my request takes me

He leans forward until our mouths almost touch and I shift closer as he whispers, “I’m not for hire, darlin’. Maybe you should look elsewhere.”

The door opens as he pulls back and I hear a harsh voice say, “Jet, a word, if it’s not too much trouble.”

I glance up to note the fury blazing from Lucy’s eyes as she watches us pull apart and says roughly, “You can wait if youprefer, Mrs. Santobello, but you may be more comfortable across the road. There isn’t much here to entertain you while you wait and they serve a mean cocktail.”

I stand and nod blankly.

“No, it’s fine. I have errands to run and will be back in an hour.”

As I turn to leave I issue her a warning. “Look after yourself, Lucy. I would hate the girls to lose yet another dance teacher in the space of two weeks. Most unsettling for them, wouldn’t you agree?”

Without waiting for an answer, I leave a whole load of unspoken promises behind me.

CHAPTER 26

ATOM

He wasn’t there. Despite our best efforts, the guy was nowhere to be seen so we end up back at The Darkside to wait for another opportunity.

Not that it should bother me. It doesn’t. There is always a visiting biker in town who hightails it out of here as soon as we issue a warning. It’s one thing fighting the mob, but the last thing I want is a turf war with a rival MC club. It’s best to paint reality when they come scouting, hoping our town is considered too much of a risk to try.

We head back to the bar and as I grab a bar stool, Alice heads my way with a sultry smile. She has never made it a secret she wants to be my old lady but I’ve always resisted her efforts. She still works at Easy Joes but also works the bar at The Darkside on occasions. I trust Alice despite her infatuation with me and trust counts for a lot in my book.

“Atom, honey, that was quick.”

“You can’t win em all darlin’.”

She slides a beer my way and leans on the bar, and nods me closer.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Tanya.”

I roll my eyes. “What’s she done now?”

Tanya is always winding the girls up and none of them trusts her. She plays the president’s sister card, and they cut her some slack because of it.

“It’swhoshe’s doing that concerns me.”

“Why?”

My sister has done most of the town and I’m past caring. Our relationship has soured over the years because she makes no attempt to disguise the contempt she has for The Dark Angels and our normal boring life and lack of ambition—as she sees it.

“Dominic Riley.”

I shrug. “So what? She’s done him several times at the club. He’s a paying customer. Why should that concern me?”

Dominic Riley is a close friend of Michael’s and although he plays at being a respectable businessman, we all know differently.

“Because she talks about leaving The Darkside for a new life with Riley and there’s nothing you can do to stop her.”

“She’s delusional.”

I chuck back the beer and then slam the bottle on the bar. “Riley will never offer her anything but his rancid cock and a fistful of dollars.”

Alice shakes her head. “Open your eyes, Atom.”

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